Afterbirth retaining device

Abstract

An afterbirth retaining device has a container for supporting a placenta and at least one clamp for securing an umbilical cord thereto. The container also has end walls, one of which has a handle and an adjacent handle shield. The retaining device is utilized by an individual to hold the afterbirth of a newborn child and safely permit the drawing of blood from the umbilical cord without accidentally sticking the individual with perhaps diseased or drug-containing blood.

I claim my invention as follows: 
     
       1. An afterbirth retaining device for holding a placenta and an umbilical cord, comprising: a container capable of receiving the placenta, said container having a first generally vertically extending end wall, a handle mounted on said first end wall, a splash shield affixed to said first end wall, and a second end wall on said container opposite said first end wall;   at least one umbilical cord clamp having an upstanding leg connected to said container and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of diverging arms extending upwardly and laterally from said clamp leg;   a securing element on at least one of said arms for securing an umbilical cord thereto; and   wherein said securing element comprises a plurality of grooves.   
     
     
       2. An afterbirth retaining device for holding a placenta and an umbilical cord, comprising: a container assembly having a central pan for receiving a placenta defined by a base, a pair of lateral outer portions along two sides of said base and a pair of vertically upwardly extending end walls adjacent two sides of said base;   a handle affixed to one of said end walls and projecting laterally therefrom such that said end wall provides a shield between said handle and said central pan; and at least one umbilical cord clamp attached to said base.   
     
     
       3. The afterbirth retaining device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of grooves formed in said base. 
     
     
       4. The afterbirth retaining device of claim 2 wherein said clamp has a leg and a pair of diverging arms at an outer end of said leg which arms extend upwardly and outwardly from said base. 
     
     
       5. The afterbirth retaining device of claim 4 further comprising a securing element on at least one of said arms. 
     
     
       6. The afterbirth retaining device of claim 5 wherein said securing element has a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       7. The afterbirth retaining device of claim 4 further comprising a second umbilical cord clamp attached to said base.